The amount of Covid cases in the Netherlands remains high. This means that we will have to continue to live our lives according to this ‘new normal’ for the time being. We work from home (when possible), stay at home when we have got a cold and get tested for Covid. But what if you fear the Covid test? What if you really have Covid? Do you fear the corona test? Then these tips might help you.

The corona measures

The guidelines given by the government are clear; you have to stay at home when you have a cold. This way you can be sure that you do not unexpectedly infect other people and ensure that we do not overburden our healthcare system. In this way we, as a society, can enjoy our freedoms again as soon as possible.

Easier said than done

But, now that Autumn has started, you will probably notice that it is a lot more difficult to adhere to the guidelines. Groceries have to be done, children have to be taken to school or you have to be at the office for an important meeting that cannot be done digitally. A (light) cold suddenly messes up your entire planning. Unfortunately, a cold can last for a week and a half and with a bit of bad luck you will have the next cold again by then.

The Covid test

The solution out there is that anyone with a cold can be tested for Covid by means of a PCR test. This way you will know within a few days whether or not you are a carrier of the virus and. If or when you are tested negative, you can simply leave your home again. The Covid test is a good option for many people. Staying home for a few days is practically manageable, so you can go outside again afterwards to do your shopping, walk the dog or take your children to school.

Fear of the Covid test

Unfortunately, not everyone dares to take a test. For some people, the idea of ​​a cotton swab going deep into your nose or throat is very frightening. If this is the case, it can cause you a lot of stress once you catch a cold. Either you have to stay indoors for a week and a half, with all the challenges that come with it, or you have to undergo a test that you fear. This is like choosing between two evils and is likely to cause all kinds of other negative emotions. You may get angry at the virus, the government or yourself because you feel this fear. You may also experience grief because you feel alone and powerless, and you feel that it is not in your power to solve this problem.

What can you do?

Talk about it

The most important thing you can do is talk to other people; admit to yourself and others around you that you’re afraid of the Covid test. This is not strange at all! It’s something you’ve never experienced before and let’s face it, no one is excited about a cotton swab in their nose / throat.

By talking about your fears, you allow the people around you to support you. Support is very important in dealing with negative emotions. Talking about it also gives you a clearer picture of what exactly you are afraid of. Someone might fear the outcome of the test, the other could fear possible pain or fear of having to throw up. Someone else may find the loss of control scary and for others it may feel like defeat to undergo a test, because testing means really facing the threat of Covid to our society. If you know what it is that you fear, you can talk with others around you to consider whether it is a realistic fear or whether it may be an unrealistic fear. Whether it is one or the other; your anxiety may not diminish immediately, but knowing that it is unrealistic it might help you to tolerate it.

Write it down

It can help to write down everything you fear. This doesn’t have to be a coherent story. You just write down thoughts that pop up in your head. By putting your fears on paper, you create a little bit more distance from them. It also helps you to be more realistic about the situation; is this fear really necessary or do you also have some unrealistic fears that you already know are wrong? Learn more about why writing is good for you in this article.

Prepare yourself

Read about the test on reliable websites. Do not search for websites that are not officially recognized to provide information on this subject. The uncertainty around Covid-19 scares many people, and the internet is full of personal opinions and ideas that arise from this fear. However, that doesn’t make the information true. Always look closely at the source of the information you are reading.

Ask for other people’s experiences

Ask people around you how they experienced the test. You will probably hear many different experiences. One thought it was nothing and the other thought it was very annoying. Do you realize that, even if people found the test very annoying, they can tell you what they thought of it; they survived the test! If they hated it, ask them about the benefits it has brought them. People tend to share mostly negative things and leave out positive experiences. You need all the information to be able to make a proper assessment for yourself.

Being scared is not the same as being in danger

Realize that feeling scared is not the same as being in danger. Sometimes you feel anxious in situations where there is no actual danger. For example for a visit to the dentist or when you have to give a presentation. Just think back to times when you have felt like that before; the fear always subsides. The Covid test takes about a minute. It isn’t very nice to feel very anxious during that minute, but realize that this is what it is; it is unpleasant. You are not actually in danger and it only takes a moment. Your anxiety will subside automatically. You can handle that!

Make the right decision for yourself

Try to make the right decision for yourself. You can write down the advantages and disadvantages of taking a Covid test, and also for not taking the test. By taking a Covid test you will have to face your fear for a moment. After you get the results, you will be able to go outside without having to worry! If you don’t take the test, you won’t have that brief moment of severe anxiety, but you will have to stay indoors for a long time, which also causes a lot of hassle. There is no right or wrong; choose what suits you. However, it is helpful to make a conscious choice and to not avoid thinking about it. Avoiding will only prevent you from executing both plans (testing or not testing staying home). By making a conscious decision, you can also think about how you are going to implement your plan and what you need. This way you can continue to take good care of yourself in a difficult situation.

My name is Denise, I am 23 years old and I have been chronically ill for a few years. That means that I can be found in the hospital regularly. It is a place where I know my way around quite well. Yet I noticed that I was very dependent on others to go somewhere or to do things. Someone always came with me, including to my hospital appointments; I never did anything alone. During the treatment of my illness, this question came up: “Don’t you feel like it would be good to work on this, before we continue with the treatment?”.

Anxious

This question got me thinking. What if one day I can do everything I would like to do again, but I’m too afraid to do it? What if I finally feel good again, but don’t dare to take a walk and still stay at home? What if I find doing something on my own worse than spending my time sick at home? Then this might get in the way of my physical recovery.

The next step

Knowing it was time to do something about my anxiety, I made an appointment with my doctor. I was soon referred to the Parnassia Group and was told that I would be treated online. I found this a bit nerve wracking; I don’t find it very comfortable to talk to strangers on the phone. Still, I wanted to try and take the plunge. If I really didn’t like it, I could always request to see a psychologist face-to-face.

Video calling

I started my online trajectory and found out that I actually liked it. I found video calling a lot less scary than calling. Because you can still see the other person’s reaction and facial expression during the conversation, it quickly feels normal and familiar. It was almost as if I was on the phone with a friend.

Yet many people around me were curious whether it was not very impersonal, but I have never experienced it like that. In addition, I think it also helps that you are in your own environment; this makes it a lot easier to talk than somewhere in a random room.

Always at hand

In addition to video calling, I also made extensive use of the diary in my NiceDay app. I kept track of my thoughts and feelings, and it was a nice idea to know that my therapist was always looking out for me. After that,I started working with the Thought records. It could happen that I suddenly had a terrible panic attack on the subway, which is very annoying with all those people around you. But, I grabbed the app and started filling in a Thought schedule. I went through the questions, “What’s going on?” or “Why are you anxious now?”. That way I could try to calm my panic right away.

It’s going better

I am happy to say that I am now doing very well. I did have a relapse recently, but thanks to the tools I have been given, I can now deal with this. I can convince myself that I can and that I must continue. I still sometimes read articles on www.niceday.app. And if I am to have another relapse, I will just open the NiceDay app again!

Would you like more information about an online treatment via NiceDay? Click here for more information. Would you like to use the app independently? Of course you can! Click here to download the app.

2020 has been a year full of change. A year in which we constantly have had to adapt to new measures and find our way around the (temporary) new normal. This is not easy for many people; missing the hugs from your family or the lack of nights out with friends still remains. But when you are quarantined with depression, this time can be even more difficult. In this blog I will discuss how you can prevent your depression from worsening.

How do you feel when you are depressed?

When you are depressed, you feel low and lethargic for a long period of time. You may also notice that you get less enjoyment from life. When you previously enjoyed a cup of coffee in the sun, it no longer feels very pleasant anymore. With the help of a psychologist you can find out if you are suffering from depression.

The vicious circle

When you suffer from depression you can experience many negative thoughts. Thinking negatively may have become a habit; you may not even realize that you are thinking negatively. This negative mindset can also make you feel more depressed. Because you feel low, you are less motivated to do things (for example daily exercise, household chores or maintaining social contacts). Because you feel less motivated to do things, you actually end up doing less. You then feel less satisfied at the end of the day and think negatively about yourself. This negative thinking then causes a low mood and this is how the circle continues. 

Breaking the circle

To break this circle, it is important to get active step by step (literally and figuratively), under the guidance of a psychologist. When you slowly start to move more and become active, it ultimately ensures that you also feel more active and that you are more active. If successful, you will feel satisfied at the end of the day and your self-esteem will increase. This is a gradual process; it is not fair to expect yourself to recover from depression in a few weeks.

Breaking the circle during Corona

Depression in itself is difficult enough. But what if you have to be quarantined during a depression? Then it suddenly becomes even more difficult to stay active. What can you do and what can you pay attention to (whether you are in treatment or not)?

  • Create as much structure as possible, that means:
    • getting up and going to bed at the same time every day: make sure you don’t sleep too little or too much.
    • Structure in your diet: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Preferably as healthy as possible.
    • Add daily exercise to your agenda. For example: a walk for 30 minutes every day at 10:00 am.
    • Make a plan for your other activities: fun relaxing activities and “musts”. For example: every day at 2:00 PM I clean up for a maximum of 20 minutes. At 3 p.m. I sit down with a cup of tea and a treat and I call a good friend. It sounds simple, but we often get energy from simple things.
  • Avoid using alcohol or drugs to deal with your emotions: it may seem nice in the short term, but in the long term it often makes you feel more miserable.
  • Limit the amount of news you receive: you can reduce your concerns or anxiety by watching or listening to reports in the (social) media less often. If you follow the news, rely on reliable information sources (the national government, the World Health Organization (WHO) or the RIVM).
  • Talk about your feelings and don’t bottle them up. Stay in touch with people you trust: friends, family and colleagues via email and phone. Don’t forget: people like to hear that someone else is doing well and are happy to offer support.
  • If help from the environment isn’t enough, contact a professional counselor. If you do not yet have a professional care provider, your doctor can help you find one. The general practitioner can also quickly provide the right kind of help and refer you to other care providers such as a psychologist.

Always take small steps in a depression. As I said, it’s not realistic to expect yourself to get rid of your depressive symptoms overnight. Give yourself time and ask for help.

Are you looking for help to deal with your depression or other problems with your mental health? Click here for more information about treatment via NiceDay.

The worst case scenario, a scenario that I think about and that worries me a lot. Some events in my daily life can suddenly give me all kinds of insecurities and negative thoughts. Sometimes I think this is something that everyone has from time to time and that is actually quite normal, but it still remains very difficult for me to deal with this. Do you often fear the worst case scenario?

Talking about it

I see myself as an anxious person, especially socially. For me, the worst scenarios are often about the social situations that I dread. Or, they may be about the social situations that have already happened, but from which I think I should have tackled differently.

One of the coping styles that I have been taught through NiceDay is talking to a person I trust about these negative thoughts and feelings. This won’t completely solve the problem, but it can help to somewhat relieve the anxiety. Talking can provide a different perspective on the situation. This is something that I really need; sharing my thoughts and feelings with someone and talking about my problems. But at the same time I find it terrifying.

Negative thoughts

When I constantly have negative thoughts and feelings they can continue to get worse. They can convince me not to share anything with others around me and to bottle up all my feelings. Obviously this is very counterproductive and can even lead to self-destructive thoughts.

“I don’t have any friends to share this with. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone or want to act like a bitch. They will think that I am overreacting and that it makes no sense that I feel that way. Soon I will drive people away from me if I talk too much about my negative thoughts and feelings. What if they think it’s stupid? What if they think I’m stupid? Soon they will find me annoying. ”. These are some of the thoughts that can constantly run through my mind at such times.

Fear of rejection

You may have already noticed, but at times like these I’m really just scared. Afraid that I will not be taken seriously. Afraid that I am a burden to other people. However, I think my main fear is rejection. A problem well known to me, and that I am trying my best to work on. I try to trust that the people around me won’t just get up and leave me and that they hang out with me because they genuinely like me. Not because of how I look, what I say or what I do, but because of who I am. It’s very difficult, but I try to take baby steps, for example by sending a message to a friend or family member that I am not feeling well. That goes against my feelings, but taking these steps is necessary to beat my fears and live a happier and more comfortable life.

A helping hand

If I am realistic, I never mind if someone comes to me with their problems. I like it, because it shows that this person trusts me and that we have a good relationship with each other. I enjoy helping people, so why do I find it so difficult to give others the opportunity to help me? Well, that’s a question I don’t have an answer to. But that is okay! Most importantly, I am aware of the things that are happening in my head and slowly try to break through this “negative” pattern. And I believe you can do this too, at your own pace!

Daily dose of positivity

I hope I was able to give you a little insight into what my patterns are and how I am slowly trying to turn this into something positive. And that if you are bothered by the same thoughts as me, this blog will benefit you and hopefully you won’t feel as alone anymore! Are you looking for some extra positivity and mental health tips? Follow NiceDay on Instagram. I also share my experiences on my own Instagram and try to spread positivity. Curious? Take a look at my profile!

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Love,

Anouk

Margriet * is 31 years old, remedial educationalist and has her own company. In many aspects of her life, things are going well, but an old ailment is recurring more often. Since she was 18, Margriet has suffered from severe fear of commitment and although it has diminished somewhat over the years, it has remained present. These fears arose from perfectionism; everything had to go well and feel good. This was mainly expressed in her love life; if someone didn’t text back, she could be very worried about it. When another date didn’t end well and again caused her a lot of stress, she knew it was time to talk to someone. She couldn’t keep going on like this and reached out for online help via NiceDay.

A push in the right direction

“A friend advised me to take a look at NiceDay; she herself had attended a number of sessions there. “Just a little push in the right direction!”. I had heard of it before and visited psychologists before, so it was not very hesitant to take the step towards help. As my doctor said: “If you want to work on your body and you see a doctor, nobody thinks that’s crazy. But if you want to work on your mind and you see a psychologist, people think it’s strange”. I knew I wanted to work on myself and no longer wanted to live in fear, so I took the step to download the NiceDay app.”

Online treatment

“I really liked the fact that the sessions were online. It was very accessible and a reassuring feeling to have someone who reads along with you. I was very busy with my own business at the time, but didn’t have to leave my house for the sessions. That worked out very well!

Online help via NiceDay was very accessible and I did not spend any time traveling for my sessions. I also really liked that I could keep track of things in the app. My practitioner could go through all of my registrations before our session, so we could get started quickly. I made sure to update the app at least once a week. I then described how I experienced the things we discussed earlier, or registered my “aha” moments. Sometimes when I just had to get something off my chest, and I could immediately write it down. Writing down your thoughts can already help you process things, but you also know that someone is going to read it. This was very reassuring and is a lot different from writing it down in a diary at home.”

Contact between sessions

“When I wrote off my concerns via the chat functionality in the app, I would receive a message from my therapist Sarah within a few days. She often asked me some questions about what I had just written down, or brought me back to something I had learned earlier in our sessions. What do I really want, instead of what some guy does or doesn’t do? Because of this contact between our sessions, I could usually reflect on an event as it occurs to me every day within 1 or 2 days. You get instant feedback on something you are experiencing, and I think that is very valuable!”

Would you recommend NiceDay?

“Yes for sure! I have already done that actually. Help via NiceDay goes with you wherever you go, in your own mobile phone, as it were. It isn’t in a clinical room, where you work on your problems and when you finish the session you no longer think about the things you have discussed. Because you keep track of things and have contact with your practitioner in between your sessions, online help via NiceDay is woven into your daily life.

Margriet received online help through the NiceDay app. Would you like to know more about NiceDay or about how you can start treatment? Click here for more information about online help via NiceDay.

*Margriet’s real name is known to the editors.

Hi everyone! My name is Anouk and a little while ago I finished my treatment with NiceDay. I was very happy with how this all went and would like to tell you more about my experience with NiceDay. I hope that if you are going through something and have doubts about using the app, my experience can help you visualize what such a treatment might look like. And, that it helps you make the decision to look for help, or maybe not, because you don’t have to do anything!

Anxious thoughts and depressive feelings

Before I started my treatment through NiceDay, my anxious thoughts were getting in the way of life, especially my social life. In addition, I struggled with anxious thoughts and depressive feelings, and I wanted to learn how to deal with trthese. This eventually led me to NiceDay. I felt like my issues weren’t bad enough for a psychologist. But I still wanted to work on them and talk about it with a professional. So, NiceDay was the perfect option for me.

Sessions via the chat

The NiceDay team matched me with my practitioner soon after I signed up. You can choose whether you call or video call your practitioner, but my anxiety affected calling with other people. Their response was very understanding and we did my first 2 sessions via chat. This was very nice for me, but I also noticed that the sessions flew by and you couldn’t discuss a lot this way, since typing takes longer than talking.

Acknowledgement for my fear

After the second session I decided I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and to start doing my sessions via calls. I asked my practitioner and he thought it was a great idea. He also assured me that he would do everything to make me feel comfortable, which was very nice for me to hear. My fear wasn’t dismissed, but it was understood and acknowledged.

From then on, I called my therapist for every session. Sometimes this was very difficult but good at the same time. We were able to discuss more and my practitioner was very understanding when sometimes I didn’t get an answer right away.

The right tools

During my sessions we worked on my social anxiety, but also on my self-criticism, which turned out I do quite a lot. In addition, we also discussed things such as emotions and how to deal with them, the different coping styles, where fears come from and why you can have them.

I have learned a lot from the sessions and still try to deal with this. Because even though I have learned a lot, I am not quite where I would ultimately like to be. But I feel that I have now been given the tools to start working on my personal development. I believe that this will make me happy, something I wish for everybody and hope you will be too!

Social media

I am not quite where I want to be, and I am still working on developing and improving myself. On my social media accounts I share what I go through and what I have learned. If you would like to receive some tips and positivity every now and then, follow me on Instagram (@anouk_van_ham) and Youtube (Anouk van Ham). And, don’t forget to follow NiceDay op Instagram, because they share even more positivity and tips than I do! 🙂

I can share a lot more about my trajectory and my own process, but I think I have described the big picture now. I hope that you will experience the same success with NiceDay as I do, or that you choose a different path that works just as well! Thank you for reading, good luck with your own journey and who knows until next time.

Love,

Anouk <3

Anouk received online help through the NiceDay app. Would you like to know more about online help via NiceDay? Click here for more information.

Sifra (25) had graduated from university and was just starting her new job. Her job was fun, her new colleagues were nice and she did her job well. Still, Sifra noticed that she wasn’t feeling well. By her employer, she was given the opportunity to do a PMO study, which included both physical and mental tests. It turned out that she suffered from anxiety and nervousness, something that was very recognizable to her. She was advised by her coach to look in to help from NiceDay, for a treatment in the safety of your own home. She did, and here you can read her experience story.

Constant nerves

“I have always been sensitive to gloomy feelings and insecurity. From the age of 15 I regularly have the feeling that I do not belong, or I experience feelings of sadness. During my studies I wasn’t as prominent, but this changed when I started working. I felt so much tension in my body and was constantly bothered by nervous feelings. My neck and shoulders started to hurt, but I didn’t know where this was coming from. Despite having a great time at work, I felt restless. I dreaded everything, even my korfball matches; a sport that I love to do for 15 years! ”

Accessible help

“I knew it would be good to talk to someone, but I wasn’t ready for that yet. I have sought help before in the past, but I hadn’t had a good experience with this. The step to go back to the doctor, put my heart on the table and admit that you need help, felt too big. I thought it was stupid and thought that my complaints were not severe enough. Until, after my PMO investigation, I was referred to NiceDay. On the website I saw that there is an opportunity for online help, which felt a lot more accessible. So I signed up. ”

Safe environment

“The help through NiceDay gave me the opportunity to talk to someone from my own safe environment, and I didn’t have to tell my story to a doctor. It felt safer, more comfortable and less nervewrecking. I quickly came into contact with the NiceDay Team and was linked to psychologist Sarah. ”

Sessions over the phone

“I chose to do all sessions over the phone, because it felt the most comfortable to me. It is very nice that you can choose how you conduct the sessions; be it video calling, calling or chatting. When someone looks at me when I tell my story, I get nervous and blurt things out. I get the feeling that they are waiting for an answer and don’t really think about the things I say. I liked having a conversation over the phone a lot better. The online treatment felt safe; I didn’t have to go anywhere and could stay at home. ”

NiceDay Community

“I had a good relationship with Sarah. She often sent me relevant blog articles from the NiceDay Community, which I really liked. She then advised me to read the article, see what I think about it and check whether it is recognizable to me. Sometimes the article was terribly recognizable, other times it was less. But I got a lot of new insights from reading all of them. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me, but reading articles in which I recognized myself, helped me identify my issues and cleared up where they came from. ”

Tools

“I’m doing a lot better. I have fewer physical complaints because I now know how to relax my body. In addition, the conversations with Sarah, the useful tips and articles have given me the tools to better deal with my anxiety. Sometimes I still have some nerves before I go to korfball, but Sarah has taught me that despite the nerves I just have to go! That is the way to fight my fears. I used to go to korfball class, but I did it for my team. Now I do it for myself. ”

NiceDay

“The NiceDay treatment really helped me a lot and I would definitely recommend it! I think a lot of people walk around with psychological complaints, without doing anything about it. Treatment via NiceDay is accessible, easy to use, flexible and for everyone. ”

Sifra received online help through the NiceDay app. Would you like to know more about online help via NiceDay? Click here for more information.

Emotions play a huge role in our lives, and processing them correctly is very important. When something goes wrong, we can experience difficulties in the long run. But how does emotional processing work? Below you can read more about the process and what can go wrong.

Emotional Processing Theory

Almost 50 years ago Edna Foa and Michael Kozak developed a theory to explain emotional processing: the Emotional Processing Theory. Your brain saves everything you experience as a ‘program’. When you encounter a similar situation later on, the corresponding program will be activated. This program makes sure your brain knows what to do. In order for this program to work adequately, there is some essential information needed. This is an example of the information that is programmed during an encounter with a wild bear:

  • Signal: Seeing a wild bear
  • Physical reaction: An increased heart rate
  • Meaning: A bear is dangerous!
  • Response: A fast heart rate means I’m afraid

Because this information is readily available in your brain, you can react fast and flee or hide. In this situation your emotions are helpful, and this is seen as a helpful reaction. 

Problematic reactions

When such an automatic reaction occurs when it’s not needed, they become problematic. A reaction becomes problematic in the following situations:

  • The information is not an accurate representation of reality.
  • Physical symptoms and fear reactions are caused by something harmless.
  • The fear reactions interfere with daily functioning.
  • Harmless signals and responses are seen as dangerous.

These kind of situations are common for people with anxiety or traumatic symptoms. For example, a phobia of spiders, where something relatively harmless can cause an extreme reaction of fear. Or, if shortness of breath becomes a signal to panic. But also thoughts about a traumatic event can lead to an unnecessary fearful reaction, because it feels like the event is happening again.

When you want to change a problematic reaction, there are two requirements: the emotion needs to be activated, so that the old and incorrect information can to be replaced with new realistic information. That means you need to face your fears in order to be able to decrease them. And that’s actually counterintuitive!

NiceDay

Try describing what kind of typical situations you react to with an emotion that’s (too) extreme. Describe all the information to get a clear overview of your program, so you can examine whether it contains inaccurate information. Maybe you see the signal of making a mistake, as a confirmation that you’re a failure. Or, maybe you see a negative feeling as a signal that something dangerous is about to happen. If you gain more insight in your program, you will get a better understanding of what you can change!

To do this, you can use the Thought Records in the NiceDay app. They give you a clear insight in your thoughts and the (possible) consequences. They can also help you bend your negative thoughts to more positive. You can use the NiceDay app without having treatment, download it here.

Each month we focus on a new theme on the NiceDay blog. In the month of July, this theme was “a new phase”. We all go through big changes during our lives, whether it’s the end of a relationship, taking on a new job or having a child. Some people love taking on new challenges, whilst others might dread it. Would you like to read more on this subject? We have listed all of our recent blogs for you:

Big changes can cause stress and anxiety. We all know that this can have a major effect on our mental wellbeing, but did you know that it can also have an effect on your skin? In this blog we discuss how that works and what you can do about it.

The corona pandemic constantly causes change, and every once in a while we find ourselves in a new phase. At first, we weren’t allowed to leave our homes, but now we’re slowly starting to find our way in our new lives. But what does this mean for physical connections? Sharlene discusses a new way of hugging: the corona hug.

In the first of two blogs, nurse specialist GGZ Daniëlle Coenjaerts, discusses the use of antidepressants. What is it exactly, how does it work and what does it mean for you if you’re planning on using them?

Anne is a psychologist and started to feel gloomy and insecure. She had been treated in the past, but started an online treatment via NiceDay during the start of the corona crisis. In this blog she explains how she’s experienced her treatment.

Change, new opportunities or challenges, new places: we often find it quite scary. But why do we dislike change this much? Why do new things make us feel anxious? NiceDay psychologist Wouter discusses it in his blog.

Evy was in the prime of her life, but suddenly had to deal with something she’d never felt before: she had a panic attack. She started her treatment at NiceDay and talks about her experience in this blog.

Each day is filled with new chances and opportunities. There is always a place for a new beginning! But how do you cease those opportunities, how do you get more out of your life? We have listed six tips that might be able to help you. 

What will happen when you end your relationship? It can be a very stressful and anxious situation, also for the one who chose to break up. How do you move on after a relationship? NiceDay psychologist Sarah offers you some advice in her blog.

In the 2nd blog of Nurse Specialist GGZ Daniëlle Coenjaerts, she discusses what it means to quit antidepressants. How do you do this, what can you expect and what does it mean for you?

Corona has a huge effect on all of us and many feel like we are being forced to stand still for a while. Time standing still has caused a change in a lot of people’s lives: they have started to live more consciously. NiceDay psychologist Britt discusses it in her blog.

Change, loss, or large societal issues can sometimes be hard to process. In such a new phase, acceptance can help you handle the situation better. Read more about it in this article.

For a lot of people, new year is the start of a healthier life. But, you can choose that it is time for a new phase at any moment in your life. For example, when it comes to a more healthy and conscious life. Important is to make a habit out of healthy living. Here are a few tips that might help you with that!

The big “normal” no longer exists. There are many different ways to give substance to your life and there is no standard that you have to meet. It’s more about finding a “good match” than doing “something good.”

 

The night brings the past back to life. Pleasant memories float around in my head; a family party, an ice cream after cycling and birthday parties bring a smile to my face. Suddenly I am engulfed in loneliness. I become aware of my body in my bed. I kick off the heavy blankets and can feel the restlessness in my legs. No position seems to be able to calm them down. I turn on my side and softly sing a song. Then I turn on my back and stare at the ceiling. My thoughts drift off to you: what are you doing right now? Are you tossing around in bed, just like I am? Do you miss me, as I miss you? I close my eyes and try to clear my head. Slowly I start to sink away. My thoughts continue in my sleep and create a vivid dream, starring you.

Dream

It is dark out on the street. Only a few lamp posts are lit. I walk towards a house and before I know it, I’m looking through the window from a distance. You are sitting at the table with three others. It looks cozy. Someone looks up, I step back and quickly walk towards a wall. I hide behind it, hoping no one sees me. After a few minutes you come up. I’m trying to stay as quiet as possible, but you’ve already seen me. I feel small, scared, and sad. You get closer and put a coat around me. Then you hug me, causing the anxiety to slowly fade away. You sit down in front of me and start talking. I can’t hear what exactly you’re saying. I blink. Suddenly there are about eight people standing behind you, in such a way that I can’t leave. I am in danger, I have to get out of here; is what I think. The people around me are asking me a lot of questions in a threatening way; what do you feel, what do you think, come on then, say it!? I burst into tears and tell them that I don’t feel safe. At that moment, the people behind you fade, and you sit in front of me. You hug me again and make me feel safe. That’s how my dream ends.

Dream hangover

The moment I wake up I feel like I’m floating and disoriented. “Where am I? Where are you? Oh wait, it was just a dream.” Slightly disappointed, I turn around. I remember exactly what I dreamed, it just seemed real. I felt all the emotions and physical touches. It seems like a memory from the past, but it is only an illusion, however ‘real’ it felt. A dream like this stays in my mind all day. I have to write it down, I have to get it out of my system. I would like to share the dream with you, because you played such a big part in it. Thousands of thoughts prevent me from doing the that. I am ashamed because I know that dreams can’t be controlled. Dreams are, in my opinion, desires, unprocessed emotions or subjects that still play in the background. The brain has to process these things, which sometimes can cause vivid dreams. I experience it as energy draining, but also as beautiful because there are so many messages in these dreams that can help me further improve my mental development.

love,

Ghyta

Do you frequently have nightmares and want to get rid of them? Try reading the tips on this blog.